The Invitation

Gospel
Mt 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people 
in parables, saying, 
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son. 
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business. 
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them. 
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests. 
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen."

Parable of the Wedding Feast

Posted by Bob Kenward on October 5, 2008

Prepare for Mass - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Today’s Readings

We long for eternal life with God in Heaven where death will be destroyed forever and every tear wiped away. Before arriving at this place, we must respond to an invitation seeking and doing the will of God at our every turn. In faith we know that God will provide for our every need. We must allow his Grace to work in us and make use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and make reparation for our sins.

Many are invited but few are chosen. The wedding feast is the celebration of the marriage of Christ the Bridegroom to his Bride the chosen people of God. The invitation to enjoy eternal life with God in the wedding banquet is sent to all of us. The response to the invitation is up to us. How well we are prepared to partake in the banquet will determine if we are welcomed or if we are to face the final damnation where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraph 546
…Through his parables he (Jesus) invites people to the feast of his kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything…